Mr Thomas Mbua Ndoko, whom we affectionately called Pa, was born on January 1st 1924 to Iya Hannah Namondo mo Mbua and tata Daniel Ekume a Ndoko. He attended Baptist Mission Primary School in Great Soppo Buea. Upon completion of his primary education he was admitted to St Joseph’s College Sasse. From Sasse College he joined John Holt Company in Victoria (Limbe). In 1948 he joined the Cameroon public service and worked in Enugu Nigeria for a while before being transferred to Cameroon.
After 33 years of service, 1948-1981, he retired from the Public Service (Department of Provincial Administration/Ministry of Territorial Administration) on the 31st of December, 1981. He was assigned to different duties and positions throughout those years which gave him the opportunity of being an eye-witness to most of the events that happened during that period. Throughout his illustrious career he held the following positions
- Confidential Secretary to the Senior Resident, Cameroon Province,(1949-1954).
- Assistant to Mr. L. Roberts in his dual capacity of Clerk of the House of Assembly and Clerk of the Executive Council in Buea, (1954-1958).
- Study leave in London, (September 1958-September 1960).
- Assistant to the Chief Electoral Officer (Mr. Allpress) of the elections of the 30th of December, 1961 to Southern Cameroons House of Assembly.
- Chief of Cabinet to the late Hon. Mr. Emmanuel Tabe Egbe, who was Deputy Minister of Justice in Yaounde, (February-December 1962).
- SDO Mamfe Division, (December 1962-September 1964).
- Senior Assistant Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Buea, (September 1964-June 1966).
- Secretary-General, Federal Inspectorate of Administration for West Cameroon, (July 1966-June 1971).
- SDO of Meme Division, (July 1971-September 1974).
- Adviser, Governor’s Office, Buea, September 1974-31st December 1981).
Pa lived a happy and very productive life after his retirement. He engaged himself in some business ventures, he traveled the world with his beloved wife, he did a lot of writing, and his most passionate of all activities was his 5.00pm radio Buea program (meyana me Mokwe) Bakweri words of wisdom which he treated with passion and respect.
With Pas’ best friend, his most trusted companion, his wife for 58years, our mother, Mrs. Juliana Ndoko by his side, Pa slipped into the Lords hands in the early hours of March 4th 2012.
Mr. Thomas Mbua Ndoko, Papa, Pa, May God be with you until we meet again.
